Household Expenditures & Income Survey

Surveys related to household’s budget are considered the most important surveys carried out by the DoS, as they provide data reflecting households’ and individuals’ expenditures and incomes and the relationship of expenditure and income with various variables. Thus, the DoS was keen to conduct the Household’s Expenditures and Income Survey periodically.

Since its establishment, the DoS conducted several surveys on Household’s Expenditures and Income, in the years 1966, 1980, 1986/1987, 1992, 1997, 2002/2003, 2006/2007, 2008/2009, 2010/2011 and 2013/2014. In view of the continuous changes in expenditure norms, income and price levels, in addition to internal and external population movements, it is necessary to update the household’s income and expenditure data from time to time. Accordingly, it was essential to conduct the Household’s Expenditure and Income Survey in 2017/2018.

This Report includes the survey objectives and methodology which contains a description of the preparatory stages of the survey, such as the questionnaire design, sample design and withdrawal, preparation of instructions and definitions manual, preparation of reminding booklets and edit rules, training of the survey staff on data collection, in addition to the arrangements of office and field requirements. Moreover, it gives a short description of the field work and data processing.

Objectives of the Survey

Provide necessary data on income and expenditure for calculating poverty indicators, defining the characteristics of the poor and preparing poverty maps.

Provide data on weights that reflect the relative importance of consumption expenditure items which are used to compile the consumer price indices.

Provide data on the final consumption and income of the households sector which are needed to calculate the national accounts.

Provide data necessary to conduct follow up and evaluate the socio–economic development programs, including those directed towards solving poverty.

Identify the prevailing consumption expenditure patterns in the society and the effect of the demographic, social and economic variables on them.

Calculate the average annual income of the household and individual, and show the relationship of various socio-economic factors with income, such as occupation, educational level of the household head ….etc.

Study the distribution of individuals and households by income and expenditure groups and analyze the related factors.

The current methodology which was implemented during the period 1997 – 2013

This methodology is based on visiting all the survey sample in each round of the four (4) rounds of the survey extending over three(3) months per round.

The data are collected as follows:

General Questionnaire:

Data of this questionnaire are collected only once at the beginning of the survey for all households of the sample and include data on the characteristics of the housing unit and individuals (economic activity, health, education, etc…).

Food Expenditure Questionnaire:

Data is collected on household expenditure on food commodities for one full week of each round of survey, taking into account the shifting of each week in each round to reflect the pattern of food expenditure over the span of a full month at the end of the survey.

Non-food Expenditure and Services:

Data is collected on household expenditure on non-food items and services at the end of each month of the round, thus we cover the household expenditure on non-food items and services over the period of 12 months.

Income Questionnaire

Data on individual’s income are collected in detail at the art of two rounds (the first after the first (6) months of the survey) and (the second round at the end of the last 6 months of the survey) to cover the household income over the whole survey year.

Data Bank

Latest Releases

The Department of Statistics (DoS) takes the pleasure in publishing a report on the results of the Household’s Expenditures and Income Survey 2013/2014, conducted during the period 1/7/2013 – 30/6/2014. The survey covered a sample of 24740 households distributed all over the governorates of the Kingdom in a way that ensures representativeness of data at sub-district level. The sample design was based on the households’ frame provided by the 2002 Population and Housing Census.

The Department of Statistics (DoS) takes the pleasure in publishing this report containing the results of the Household Expenditures and Income Survey 2010, conducted during the period 0/4/2010 – 31/3/2011. The survey covered a sample of 13866 households distributed all over the governorates of the Kingdom in a way that ensures representatives of data at sub-district level. The sample design was based on the households’ frame provided by the 0224 General Population and Housing Census.